If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Broncos waive Kyle Orton

The Broncos released the 29-year-old veteran quarterback Tuesday, six weeks after benching him following a 1-4 start.

"I spoke with Kyle earlier today and thanked him for everything he did for the Broncos. He was a true professional throughout this season. I've got a great deal of respect for him as both a player and as a person," coach John Fox said in a statement.

"This was the right decision for our football team. We feel good about our quarterback group, and this gives Kyle an opportunity to help another team and showcase his talents."

Orton shouldn't stay unemployed for long.

Although he's a vested veteran with seven NFL seasons under his belt, Orton is subject to the waiver rules because he was released after the trade deadline. If another team claims him, it will be responsible for about $3 million in salary, which is what remains of his roughly $9 million contract for 2011. If nobody claims him, he'll be free to sign with anybody.

Two intriguing possibilities are the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans. Both are in the thick of the playoff race at 7-3 but have problems under center, and another potential destination is AFC West rival Kansas City.

Cutler broke the thumb on his right throwing hand last weekend and might miss the rest of the regular season. His backup is Caleb Hanie. The Bears visit the Broncos on Dec. 11.

Matt Schaub of the Texans is out for weeks with a right foot injury and he's been replaced by previously underachieving Matt Leinart.

Matt Cassel hurt his throwing hand in the Chiefs' 17-10 loss to Denver on Nov. 13 and had season-ending surgery the next day. His replacement, Tyler Palko, threw three interceptions in his first start, a 34-3 loss at New England on Monday night.

John Elway, the Broncos' executive vice president of football operations, called Orton an "absolute pro," and said he decided against keeping him on the roster through the remainder of the season.

"We thought it was best for the Broncos at this time as well as for Kyle to catch on with a different team," Elway said. "Kyle is going to have more options in the NFL. He'll get an opportunity to play somewhere else, and we wish him the best of luck."

The Broncos didn't announce a corresponding roster move, but one possibility was the promotion of rookie quarterback Adam Weber from the practice squad.

Orton was acquired in 2009 in the Cutler trade with the Bears and he won his first six starts in Denver before going 6-21. He passed for 3,000-plus yards in each of his first two seasons in Denver after spending his first four seasons in Chicago.

The Broncos tried to trade Orton after the NFL lockout ended in July but talks with Miami broke down and Fox threw open the quarterback competition, something for which Tebow proved ill-prepared.

Orton decisively outplayed Tebow in training camp for a second straight season but he turned ordinary when the games started to count, turning the ball over nine times and losing a string of winnable games and the organization's confidence.

Orton's slide hit bottom Oct. 9 when he went 6 for 13 for 34 yards in the first half against the Chargers and threw his seventh interception, tied for most in the league at the time.

Fox sent in Tebow to start the second half and after a slow start, the former Florida star sparked a listless offense to within a last-gasp pass of coming back against San Diego.

"I'm disappointed with everything," Orton said at the time. "I wish I could have played better, I wish we had a better record, I wish a lot of things, but the reality is what it is."

The next day, Fox pulled Orton aside before team meetings and informed him he had decided to go all-in on Tebow.

Orton pledged to be a good teammate and stay ready in case his number was called again, but Tebow has gone 4-1 with the Broncos tailoring their offense to his unique skill set and reintroducing the option to the NFL.

When the Broncos were walloped by the Lions in Tebow's second start, Brady Quinn leapfrogged Orton as the primary backup and appeared close to getting his shot under center. But Fox stuck with Tebow, albeit with the caveat that it was a week-to-week proposition.

Since then, Tebow has won all three of his starts and engineered fourth-quarter comebacks against the Raiders and Jets to go with his miracle in Miami, when he led the Broncos back from a 15-point deficit in the closing minutes for a win in overtime.

On Monday, Elway said on his weekly radio show, however, that he wasn't sold on Tebow as the long-term answer at quarterback, saying the second-year pro has to become a better passer and improve on third downs.

Tebow is completing just 44.8 percent of his passes and Denver was 1 for 11 on third downs last week before its game-winning, 95-yard touchdown drive that stunned the Jets 17-13.

Several teammates said Orton was anything but a cancer in the locker room in recent weeks, even though it had become obvious he was biding his time until his first foray into unfettered free agency as a healthy QB in his prime and with a .500 record as a starter.

Yet, his demotion did create some awkward moments. He kept his captainship after losing his starting job and would help lead the team during warm-ups before watching the less accurate but more mobile Tebow take the bulk of the snaps during the week.

Orton was still held in high esteem in the Broncos locker room, especially by veterans such as Champ Bailey and Andre' Goodman, who said at the time of Orton's benching that they felt he was being unfairly singled out as the reason for the team's bad start.

Re: Broncos waive Kyle Orton

Elway needs to lay off Tebow. He has better stats and won more games than Elway did his first year. You got rid of Orton so quit throwing Tebow under the bus in the media. He will develop in time I believe if he gets a chance.

Re: Broncos waive Kyle Orton

He'd be a perfect fit for Chicago. That way Cutler does not have to return too early or they can IR him if it is gonna be a long time table. Orton knows the system and would be a good replacement for Cutler and it gives him an opportunity to show the other NFL teams in the league that he can play so another team may take a chance on him.

Re: Broncos waive Kyle Orton

He'd be a perfect fit for Chicago. That way Cutler does not have to return too early or they can IR him if it is gonna be a long time table. Orton knows the system and would be a good replacement for Cutler and it gives him an opportunity to show the other NFL teams in the league that he can play so another team may take a chance on him.

Agree. How did Chicago get so lucky if they end up with Orton.
From what I remember Caleb Hanie didn't look too bad though.

Re: Broncos waive Kyle Orton

Actually the system has changed since Orton left Chicago. He never played for Mike Martz, who took over before the 2010 season, nearly a year after Orton left the Bears in the trade for Cutler before the 2009 season

Re: Broncos waive Kyle Orton

Actually the system has changed since Orton left Chicago. He never played for Mike Martz, who took over before the 2010 season, nearly a year after Orton left the Bears in the trade for Cutler before the 2009 season

yes the system cant be any different. I mean now we dont even have audibles Hanie is a better fit for the system as he has mobility and a strong arm. Orton doesnt have a strong arm which is key for the Martz system. But rumor is he wants to come here to be the backup to Hanie. They even went as far as saying his agent made a powerplay saying he will only play for the Bears and ask for his release to come back to Chicago. We put a wavier claim on him he will backup Hanie and come back next year at least that is what it sounds like. He will only play if Hanie gets hurt.

Jeff really overrates Orton IMO Hanie will be a better QB if given a chance than Orton was IMO my only fear is he is turnover prone in the preseason hopefully he isnt the rest of the season.

Kurt Warner would be the ideal guy but no way he comes out of retirement.

Honestly im happy we didnt pick him up. Lovie confirmed that Hanie is the guy regardless which makes me happy. They brought in Mcown instead Orton is better than MCcown but it really isn't worth it IMO.

Hanie IMO will be a starter or known as one of the best backups in a few years he has the arm accuracy and the ability to make plays with his feet